Tyler made orange belt!

We have missed quite a bit of karate lately and with baseball we are only able to do one day a week now, but Tyler worked hard and passed his belt test last week. He and Ryan are both orange belts now. Ryan had better work harder or Tyler is going to catch him!

Baseball has begun....and it was cold and wet!

(above)Tyler in the outfield. He only got one chance to bat and Cody was being a pain so I didn't get a picture. Next time I will do better! (below) Ryan batting. He almost had that one! A few pitches later he nailed it right now the third base line!



I heard the birds chirping as I was laying in bed at 6:30, so was hoping that it was going to be a nice day. Afterall Friday was BEAUTIFUL compared to what we have had lately. Unfortunately I looked outside and saw rain. So we sat in rain and drizzle from 8:30 to about 12:30 We were soaked, but the kids had fun and Ryan's white pants (which I did not buy, the army actually did this year) now have stains to prove it! Both boys have really good coaches this year so I am excited for them.

Zach's newest award!

Zach was awarded Maintenance Professional of the Month for his squadron and wing. Then on top of that his engine group was awarded Engine Team of the Month! He was also given two more coins so has aquired quite the stack of recognition this deployment. He works so hard and it is nice to see that others see it too! I am proud of him and can't wait to find out when he is coming home!

We have a house!!!

Housing will not be able to turn keys over until later this month, but they did confirm we are assigned a new townhouse that is right across the street. We are going to try and time things so Zach is home, banking on we get an approx return date soon. I am excited, but more than anything relieved. Now I know Cody will remain in this "cozy" environment as his teacher puts it and we can work on his progress knowing where we will live. And to top it off we will have a yard, garage and still be near the big park which was Ryan's biggest concern. Tyler's was having to walk further to school, but he says just across the street isn't that much further so it's ok. Funny how kids think! Movers are paid for by the AF, but I am starting to think it might be sill considering how far we are going. I guess I will have to see what our options are. I am just so relieved and happy!

So many emotions.....

Earlier today I was leaving post to try for the third time to take my humanities test. As I approached the exit gate one of the security guards came running waving his hands so I knew to pull over immediately. This is all too common, busses, ambulance busses bringing injured troops the hospital on post. I waited as two came in and thought well two today is not bad. As of late I have noticed even one at a time so that must mean a decline in injuries. Not so long ago I remember seeing no less then three and often four. Every time I see this I am thrown into reality and stop worrying about the small trivial things in my life at the moment. Life is short and we never know what the road ahead is going to be.

Then this evening I learned of my cousin's car accident and once again face the reality of how fragile life can be. Being so far away I really do not know much about her, she is quite a bit younger, still in high school. There is nothing I can do, no support I can give, only prayers. I do not know if her path is to live or die, but I pray that my aunt and uncle, her siblings, my grandparents, all who are there with her or not far away can find peace. I pray they can be strong and get through the trials that lay ahead.

Happy Easter!

We had a fun, but different easter this year. We woke up to snow. The weather really hasn't been that nice all month then Friday the snow came. Saturday I took the kids to see Horton Hears a Who since we couldn't go any of the base egg hunts then we dyed eggs later that evening. Cody still has blue fingers and it was a frustrating mess! But the kids had fun so I guess that's what matters. Sunday morning the kids were up at 7 and too side tracked with eggs and candy to take time to get dressed. So the picture I have is a sloppy one, but at that point I was just happy to have all three in clothes! I also had a green sweater on so we all matched for the first time ever! I went to a friends house after church and had a nice lunch and some adult conversation! We had filled plastic eggs to hide, but the snow threw that off. We decided what the heck lets throw them in the snow anyway! So we did and the kids had a blast finding them all. Unfortunately the camera was acting up so I only have two pictures from it. Better than nothing I suppose. We had a great day and ended it with talking to Zach so that was the icing on the cake so to speak!

Very proud of Tyler!

About once a month the boys pick a day for me to come have lunch with them. I figure if I am having them eat the school food it wouldn't hurt to go eat it with them. Yesterday I went to have lunch with Tyler and while I was waiting I saw his teacher. First off I have to explain why he was not with his teacher. She team teaches with another third grade teacher becuse he focus and specialty is wriitng, reading and such. The other teacher does all the science, math and social studies. It works out really well and Tyler has gotten a much more balanced eucation by having one teacher in the morning, one in the afternoon. So the math teacher brings them in for lunch.

Anyway his assigned teacher, guess homeroom teacher, came over and said the counselor has recieved an updated deployment tracker list and saw Tyler's name. She said that he still feels he is doing ok and is not in need of the counseling classes and such that Ryan is in. Then she said that she didnt know if Tyler had told me, but earlier in the week 5 of the 6 boys in her class got in trouble and ultimately ended up in the principal's office. Tyler was the only boy that did not get in trouble and removed himself from the situation. She said that he told her he knew it was wrong and when he told them they didn't listen. He spent the afternoon in the class with 12 other girls! Not sure if that was punishment for him or not while the others were getting parents called.

We are so proud of Tyler! Little things like this worry me. So many influnces and such these days make it hard to just be a kid. It would have been so easy for him to just go along with the group espeicially since he had two really good friends in it, but he chose not to. His teacher has been impressed with him all year and how well he adapts to Zach coming and going and she said he constantly goes out of his way to help others, cheer them on when they are taking a speed test or just being thier friend. Tyler is a great kid and without him I wouldn't make it through deployments as easy and I am just so proud of him!